An arrest warrant has been issued for Liberia’s former finance minister, Samuel Tweh, and four other senior officials from the previous administration, over allegations of involvement in a $500m corruption scam. Tweh, who was previously sanctioned by the US for corruption, has called the indictment a “politically motivated witch-hunt”.
The five former officials have been indicted for economic sabotage, illegal disbursement and expenditure of public money, criminal conspiracy, and other charges. Three of the men are currently being held in Liberia’s central prison, while Tweh and another former official are yet to be arrested.
Tweh has denied the allegations, stating that he has been a “major political target” and faced “falsely devilish accusations” over the last six years. The current president, Joseph Boakai, has pledged to crack down on corruption and has taken steps to strengthen anti-corruption agencies.
This is not the first time Tweh has faced corruption allegations. In December, the US sanctioned him and two senators for “abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting and offering bribes”. Tweh denied the allegations at the time.
The indictment is part of a broader effort by the new administration to address corruption and financial mismanagement, which plagued the previous administration. President Boakai has declared his assets and ordered an audit of the presidential office, and has beefed up anti-corruption agencies.
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